With an intention to revive cinema culture in the country, Ministry of Culture has finally decided to permit the screening of Indian movies on permanent basis.

The proposal for screening at least six movies per year has been sent to the prime minister for approval, which is likely to be approved within a few days.

Sources told ‘The News’ that in a high level meeting presided by Secretary Ministry of Culture Shahid Rafi, it was decided after a heated debate that Indian movies of high quality and good subject should be screened in Pakistani cinemas to revive the cinema culture in the country. The secretary was of the opinion that Indian movies would not only help generate revenue but would also create an atmosphere of competition that would definitely bring positive changes in Pakistani movies.

He added that the proposal sent to the PM was not only about screening Indian movies in Pakistan but also included the suggestion of same number of Pakistani movies to be screened in India to maintain a balance.

Rafi said the films screened till now were given permission after special relaxation in laws either because of their subject or historic value. “Three Indian movies have been permitted till now including ‘Taare Zameen Par’, ‘Goal’ and ‘Mughal-e-Azam’,” he said.

He said the number of movies to be screened in Pakistan could be changed if the prime minister asks to do so. “It could be more than six or less than six, as it depends upon the prime minister,” he added.

He said there were more than 700 cinemas in Pakistan but due to the poor quality of movies and good-for-nothing subjects, it has now been reduced to 250. “People stopped going to cinemas, as there was nothing in the movies to entertain them and the cinema was confined to a particular class of people,” he said.

He said the ministry had two options to revive the cinema culture - either to permit the screening of Indian movies or to relax the censor policy of Pakistani movies. “Relaxing the censor policy would have meant forcing 50 per cent of the population to stay home rather than watch movies,” he said adding that the second option of screening Indian movies was far better, as it would not discourage families to visit cinemas.

Talking about the dilapidated condition of cinemas in the country, he said that once people start thronging the cinemas, their condition would automatically be improved.

It is also worth mentioning here that Indian movies used to be screened in Pakistan, until the 1965 war between the two neighbouring countries that brought down all Indian films from cinemas in Pakistan with a complete ban imposed on them.

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